Direction turn indicator for vehicles



April251935. @.MRCJAN Em 2,155,617

DIRECTION TURN INDICATOR FOR VEHICLS Filed Jan. 29, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 25, 1939. C,` M, ROAN ET AL 2,155,617v

DIRECTION TURN INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 T 5f @2f/$2 6@ iL/o3: 20 G8 48 104: A l `26 f of m- 6/ l as /i i 55 28 34j 28 a L71 y =r,- r www f I@ v I [l 73/ w \\J74 F76 78 20 l 46 e '75 45 7o .fm/enfans Aprilzs, 1939. C, M. ROAN ET AL 2,155,617

DIRECTION TURN INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES i //2 @Y 8 i Q2 .Ihre/rfa r.: I )j N Car/MPoa/ Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRECTION TURN INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES Application January 29, 1936, Serial No. 61,300

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to direction turn indicators for automobiles, busses, and the like, and generally stated, consists of novel devices, combinations of devices and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and assigned in the claims.

'I'he invention is in the nature of an improvement on or modification of the direction turn indicator described and claimed in our co-pending application, Serial No. 745,746, which was illed September 2'7, 1924, and entitled Direction turn indicator for vehicles.

A particularly important robject of the present invention is the provision of a direction turn indicator, of the type which includes a casing, a signal arm projectable from and retractable into the casing and manually controllable means for projecting and retracting a signal arm, of improved means for normally locking or latch- 2O ing the signal arm against projecting movements. A more specific object of the present invention is to provide latching or locking mechanism of the type described which will lock the signal arm against accidental projection under ordinary conditions of jarring and jolting, but which will yield to excessive pressure so as to greatly reduce the possibility of the signal arm becoming stuck against intended and controlled projecting pressure, and to provide in further combination with such latch mechanisms means for automatically retracting the signal arm to normal position if and when it should be accidentally projected through excessive jolting or jarring.

The above and other highly important objects of the advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the specification and claims and in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a complete indicating device, with the signal arm in extended or projected position.

Fig. 2 is a View looking from back toward the front of the signal device shown in Fig. 1, with the rear cover plate broken away to expose the inner mechanism, said View being taken on the irregular line 2 2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 yof Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the signal arm' in projected position rather than in a retracted position as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6 6 oi Fig. 2.

Fig. '1 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2, some parts on the sectional line being shown in full and some of the 5 parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig.2. 10

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the control switch houses.

Fig. 11 is a sectional View taken on the line Il ll of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the 15 electrical hook-up of the apparatus.

The shell or box-like casing of the indicator is indicated as an entirety by a numeral 20. This casing 20 is preferably stamped or pressed from sheet metal and is provided Yin its front longitudinal face with a large opening 2|, which opening 2| is shaped to correspond to the prole of the signal arm. The back of the casing 20 is normally closed by a cover plate 23 that is re-` movably held in place by suitable anchoring screws 0r the like, not shown, that are passed through aligned apertures 24 in the covering plate 23, and in anchoring lugs or flanges 25 that are formed integrally with the ends of the casing 2t. The casing of the device is adapted to be mounted in a suitable position on the side of a vehicle body by means of suitable anchoring screws passed through the aligned holes 24, to serve the dual function of anchoring the entire devices and retaining the back plate 23.

The signal arm, which is indicated as an entirety by 25, is very similar in character to that illustrated in our above referred-tocompanion application and comprises a heel block 26 that is preferably cast, a longitudinal U-shaped frame 21, translucent or transparent side-plates 28, and 40 internal light bulb supporting bar 29 that may be assumed to be rigidly anchored to the heel block and its inner end. l

The U-shaped frame 21 is secured to the heel block detachably by means of screws or the like, 3l), applied through the inner ends of the U- shaped frames at points overlapping the heel block. The inner marginal edges of the frame 21 are formed or provided.- with channels 3l for reception of the marginal edge portions of the transparent or translucent side-plates 28, the plates 28 being inserted into the channels from the rear `when the frame 21 is removed from the heel block. The outside channels 3l are com- 55 pleted by outwardly projecting flanges 32 that are suitably secured to the frame 28, preferably by welding or the like, not shown, and which flanges 32 overlap the outer face of the box-like h-ouse or casing 20, adjacent the signal arm opening 2|. The plates 29 may, of course, be of any desired color, but preferably one of the said plates will be tinted yellow and the otherred, the choice bein-g such that the red plate will face rearwardly when the signal arm is projected and so that the yellow plate will be visible from the front of the vehicle when the arm .is extended. In this respect, it may be said that the device when used as a left hand turn indicator is preferably applied, so that the free end of the signal arm points forward when the arm is retracted.

Located within the signal arm in suitable sockets 33 is a pair of light bulbs 34, which Aaresupported by and grounded to the supporting bar 29. At this point, it may be stated that the base shell contact of each bulb 34 is ,grounded tothe bar 29 through its respective socket, and vthrough the medium of the sockets and bar 29 and base shell contacts of the bulb are grounded to the metallic parts of the associated vehicle.

The center rear contact of each of the ylight bulbs is yieldingly engaged by a spring vcontact 35, only one of which is shown, said spring contacts being' anchored to the bar 29 through the medium of a suitable insulating istrip 36. vSpring contacts 35 are connected together through the medium of a lead 38 that connects -to a contact head 39, which is carried by and insulated-electrically from the heel block 26 at a point offset from the axis of the signal arm. The lead38, at a point between the bulbs 34 and the contact head 39, has interposed therein .a conventional thermo flasher switch 40.

For rigidly anchoring the signal arm 25 to the casing 25, the heel block of the signal :arm is provided with an intricately formed offset hinge block 4| that works between and is pivoted to hinge lugs 42 that project `from the front face of the casing 20. The heel block is provided with an intricately `formed projecting stop lug 43 for engagement with a resilient stop block 44 at the time when the'signal arm is fully projected at right angles to the casing. The resilient stop block y44 is suitably 'but rigidly 'anchored to the casing 20.

As a reversible .motor lfor moving the signal arm to and from operative extended or projected position, we provide a double Vsolenoid .motor that is very similar in character to Vthat of our above identified co-pending application. This motor is comprised mainly of longitudinally spaced flat lsolenoids 45 and 46, these solenoids being securely anchored to the casing above and out of alignment with the space 'normally occupied by the signal arm. Working longitudinally through the solenoids 45 and 45, lvvhich'solenoi-ds are-axially aligned, is a magnetically inuenceable armature 4'l that is common 'to both solenoids. The solenoids 45 and 4G are wound-on a common sleeve '4S of non-magnetical material, 4such as brass and copper, and vthe armature'bar 41 works in the sleeve 48 and is guided "for true vaxial movements thereby. At its undersurface, the

Vsleeve 48 is provi-ded with a wide slot y49 intermediate the solenoids 45 and 4B.

The exposed intermediate .portion of the armature 41 is connected to vthe heel block '26 at a point offset from the axis by means of a more or less L-shaped voperating link or armll that is pivotally connected to the heel `block at '5l 'and to the armature by means of a screw or the like 1 l'end of the casing ZIJ and is loosely secured in respect thereto by means of a screw or the like '58 that works loosely in the end of the casing so as to permit limited rocking motion of the heel end of the vdash pot in respect to the end of the casing. The piston of the rod 54 works within the vdash pot and is indicated by 59. Free axial sli-ding movements of the plunger rod 54 through the lug 53 are limited by means of adjustable stops G0. The dash pot and associated connections ,just described cushion movements of the signalling arm when it approaches its -extreme'open or closed positions, and the stops 60 are so adjusted that the signal arm will lmove vfreely and 'unaffected by the dash pot durin initial opening or closing movements.

This signal `structure is provided with a shutter for closing the opening 2| of the casing when the signal arm is projected. This shutter is very similarto that described and claimed in our above referred to companion application, and is `best illustrated in the present drawings in Figs. l, 2, 4 and 5. This shutter, indicated as an entirety by !is formed of flat sheet metal and is located within the-,casing inward of the signal arm. At one end the shutter 6l is pivotally connected to the .heel block at 52, (see particularly in Fig. ll) and at its other `end the shutter is pivotally connected at 63 to `a guide arm 64, which guide arm at its other end is pivotally connected to the casing 20 through the medium of rigi-dlugs 6,5.

The point of vpivotal connection'GZ of the shutte-r 6I, is such in relation to the axis 4I of the signal arm, andthe guide arm 64 is of such length that the lshutter will be positionedv flat against the inner face of the signal arm when the said signal arm is in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. Land when the signal arm is moved outwardly toits fully'extended or projected position,

the shutter will move Aagainst the inner inside 'f' of the outer wall of the `casing 2U and close the signal va-rm aperture 2|, as shown particularly in Figs. l and l5. The axial portion of the shutter guide arm v64 is `provided 4between the pivot lugs `55 with a light coil spring 66 vwhich is arranged l to exert light outward rpressure on the guide `arm 64. This spring `66 serves, when the signal arm is in Ya retracted position, to keep the shut- 'and other foreign elements, including dust, out `ci' the casing when the signal arm is projected.

It will, of course, be obvious that when the ysign-a1 Aarm is retracted, the signal arm and its marginal flange 32 tightly close the opening 2l.

As an important feature to this invention, we provide means for mechanically securing the signal arm locked or latched in a retracted position, and although the latching mechanism herein provided for fthe purpose is similar in character .to

the latch mechanism of our cio-pending application above referred to, there are important distinctions between the present an-d prior latch mechanisms which will be hereinafter made clear. The latch proper is indicated by 61 and is intermediately pivoted at 68 to lugs 99 that are rigidly secured to and project from a fixed head 'I9 of the adjacent solenoid 45. The free end of the latch 6l is formed to aiord a V-shaped tip, and the apex of this V-shaped tip faces toward the pointed free end of the signal arm and one side thereof normally engages the blunt end of a beveled latch lug 'H on the free end of the signal arm frame 2l. The latch is subject to the yielding action of a spring 'i2 which yieldingly presses the latch against the latch lug 7| when the signal arm is in a fully retracted position and after the latch has cammed itself past the latch lug near the completion of its retracting movement. At this point, it is desirable to note that the present latch mechanism differs from the latch mechanism of my previously filed co-pending application identified above in that the latter latch, due to its cam-acting, V-shaped tip, maintains the signal arm when the latter is in a retracted position under close tension, whereas the latch of my previous application maintained no such closing tension on the signal arm in retracted position.

Furthermore, it is important to note that due to the camming action of the latch on the latch lug of the present application, the latch does not afford a positive lock as did the latch in my prior application and, therefore, no special means for manually releasing the latch mechanism in the present case is necessary, it being possible to force the signal arrow outward by manual pressure against the action of the latch mechanism. The spring i2 does, however, exert sucient latching pressure on the latch to prevent accidental release of the signal under all ordinary encounter of jolting and jarring when a vehicle is in operation.

For automatically releasing the latch, the following described connections are employed. The armature lil is provided, at its end portion adjacent the latch mechanism, with a tip 'I3 of magnetically influenceable material, and the armature tip is carried by the armature within the solenoid i5 'for limited longitudinal sliding movements in respect to the armature by means of headed pins, or the like, 14. The pins I4 are inserted into slots 'l5 in the armature and thereafter the slots 'l5 are enclosed suiiciently to securely anchor the pins against accidental movement. Working through the armature tip 'I3 and through the adjacent end of the latch 61, is a trip-rod 'i6 that is provided at its inner end with a head ll and at its outer end is equipped with screw-threaded nuts 18, which serve as a head. The head 'il of the trip-rod is engageable with the armature tip and is arranged to work in a longitudinal slot 'i9 in the armature. The manner of operation of the latch actuates the construction above described and will be apparent from the description of the operation of the entire mechanism.

For controlling the circuit through the lamps 34 of the signal arm, there is provided a switch 80, comprising the before described contact 39 of heel block 2e and a cooperating spring contact 8l. This spring contact 8l is in the nature of a bent leaf spring curved to substantially conform to the arc of a circle that is slightly eccentric to the pivot ti of the signal arm. The contact 39 is disengaged from the spring contact 8l when the signal arm is fully retracted, but engages the spring contact 8| when the signal arm is partially extended, and thereafter maintains frictional wiping engagement with the spring contact during the balance of the outward projecting movements of the signal arm and keeps the circuits of the lights closed during the interval the signal arm is in operative position. The circuit of the light bulbs will be completed in connection with the description of the operation.

The solenoid 45, which serves as the signal arm projecting solenoid, is like the solenoids of our co-pending application above referred to in that it is formed of two independent windings; one being a heavy wire winding 82 and the other being a relatively ne wire winding 83. 'Ihe relatively heavy and relatively ne windings, 82 and 33, respectively, may otherwise be termed relatively low resistance and relatively high resistance windings, respectively. At their inner eX- tremities, the coils 82 and 83 of solenoid A5, are connected together and to contact 84 of a normally closed switch comprising contact 84 and a cooperative contact 85, the latter of which contacts is connected to one pole of the vehicles storage battery, indicated by B, through metallic parts of the vehicle, as shown in the diagram. The switch contact 86 is a fixed contact that is carried by the sleeve 48 and grounded to the metallic parts of the signal and associated vehicle therethrough, and the switch contact 85 is a spring contact that is carried by the head 85 of solenoid 45.

This head 86 should be understood is of insulating material and therefore it will be seen that the Contact 35 is insulated from metallic parts of the signal and vehicle. The normally closed switch contacts 84 and 35 are opened automatiu cally when the signal arm reaches a substantially fully projected position by engagement of the signal arm actuating link 5S with the spring contact 85, (see particularly Fig. 5).

The solenoid 46, which serves as the signal arm closing solenoid, is made up of a single winding 81. One end of this solenoid is connected to one terminal of the battery through ground, as indicated in the drawings, and the other end thereof is connected directly to a contact 83 of a switch made up of said contact and a cooperating contact 89. The contact 89 is a fixed contact which is insulated from ground by an insulating block 99, and the Contact 89 is a spring contact subject to its own spring tension to engage Contact 88, and is insulated from ground through the medium of the insulating block 99. The spring contact 89 is engaged and moved out of engagement with its co-operating contact when the signal arm reaches a retracted position by a finger 9i that is carried by the heel block of the signal arm. This switch automatically breaks the circuit oi solenoid 46 after it has completed its function of closing or retracting the signal arm. For controlling operation of the signal arm, there is provided a control switch 92 that is made up of xed contacts 93 and 9a, and a ceu-operating rotatively movable contact arm 95. Switch 92 is shown only diagrammatically, but may be assumed to be contained within a control box 95,

shown in Fig. 10, and it may be further assumed that the axis of the switch arm 95 projects through the front face of the casing St and is controlled by an operating knob 91. The control box 96, preferably located within convenient reach of the operator of the vehicle, has mounted Til therein va pilot light bulb 98 that is visible to the operator through a sight opening 99 in the `face of the control box.

For automatically controlling the circuit of the pilot light, there is provided a switch |00 which is made up of a movable grounded contact |0| and a fixed Contact |02 that is carried by the nonconductive head 86 of solenoid 45. The movable contact |0| is formed as part of a slide bar |03 that is carried by the sleeve 48 for limited sliding movements in respect thereto axially of the sleeve. For securing the slide bar to, and for limited sliding movements thereof in respect to, the sleeve 48, the sleeve is provided with pins |04 that work through slots |95 in the slide bar |03. Applying over the slide bar and held in place by the pins |04, which project therethrough and are swedged outwardly thereof, is a retaining clip 10B which exerts suilicient pressure on the slide bar to prevent accidental shifting thereof. The slide bar |03 is formed at its opposite ends with projecting lugs |01, which are engaged by a pin |08, that is carried by the signal arm operating link adjacent to the point of pivotal connection 52 to the armature, near the extremes of movement of the armature. By reference, particularly to Fig. 5, it will be noted that one of the lugs |01 of the slide bar is engaged by the pin |08 when the signal arm is extended and the said slide bar has been moved to a position wherein the contacts |0| 'and |02 are closed. By further reference to'said tracted. By means of this switch mechanism |00, lthe pilot light which serves the purpose of indicating to the driver or operator when the signal arm is in operative position, will not be illuminated until the signal arm has been nearly fully extended. This is an important improvement over the pilot light arrangement of our previously identified co-pending application. Since inthe device of the previous application, the pilot light circuit was closed automatically throughout the major portion of the projecting cycle of the signal ari-n. and would indicate to the driver that `the signal was in a fully projected operative position, even though it may have become-stalled in some partially projected position wherein it was not truly effective as a turn indicator.

Operation When the signalling device is in inoperative condition, that is, with the arm retracted, the parts of the signalling device will be positioned as indicated in Figs. 2, 4, 6, '7, 8 and 9, and the control switch arm 95 will be positioned iii-engage- -ment with contact 93, as shown best in Fig. 12.

Now, if it is desired to indicate a contemplated turn, the operator will move the switch arm 95 of the manual control switch into engagement with its cooperating contact 94, and this setting of the switch will close a circuit from battery B through only the heavy winding 82 of solenoid and comprising a lead |09, the switch arm 95, contact 94, lead H9, the solenoid winding 82, closed switch contacts 84 and 85, and the metallic parts oi the signal and vehicle back to the battery. The solenoid 45 will now be energized and the initial effect of such energizaton will be to set up a magnetic. eld which will magnetize the armature bar 41 and causing the latter, (see particularly Fig. 7) to draw the armature tip, which was previously spaced therefrom, (as shown in Fig. '1) into contact therewith. This movement of the armature tip 13 causes retraction of the head end of the latch 61 and disengagement of the tip end of the latch from the cooperating latch lug 1| of the signal arm, thereby automatically releasing the latch so that it is free to swing into projected position by immediate subsequent movement of the armature bar 41. t will here be understood that there will be quite a heavy current ow through the heavy Winding 92 of solenoid 45 under the conditions just described, and as a result thereof a powerful magnetic field is set up which will cause the armature to move the signal arm to extended position, immediately upon release of the latch, through the medium of its operating link 50. Immediately prior to the signal arms reaching a fully projected position, the switch contact 85 will be engaged by the signal arm operating link 50, (see particularly Fig. 5) and will open the switch contacts 84 and 85, thereby disconnecting the joined ends of windings 82 and S3 of solenoid 45 from ground. With this accomplished, the low resistance solenoid windingv 82 will be connected to the grounded side oi the battery B through the medium of the high resistance winding v83 of said solenoid 45, which latter winding is grounded at its end opposite that end joined to the Winding 82. The circuit, now closed through serially connected windings 92 and 83, constitutes what may be termed a holding circuit, there being now a greatly reduced current flow through the solenoid 45, and although there is a proportionate reduction in power-producing effect on the armature 41, the pressure exerted by the armature on the signal arm will nevertheless be suflicient to `maintain the signal arm in projected condition.

Under initial projecting movements of the signal arm the switch contact 80 will be closed with switch contact 8|, and will remain engaged with said contact while the signal arm is projected and this closing of switch contacts 80 and 8| will complete a circuit through pilot lights 34 of the switch arm, which comprises lead |09, control switch contacts 94 and 95, lead H0, a lead contacts 30 and 8i lead 38 inclusive of ilash cirf cuit-maker 40 and ground. Also, it will be noted' that when the signal arm reaches a substantially fully projected position, the switch |00 will be closed, thereby completing a circuit for the pilot light 98 comprising of lead |09, a lead |2 having the pilot light 98 interposed therein, contacts |0| and |02 of switch |00 and ground. Hence, in an extended position, the signal arm lights 34 will be illuminated and the pilot light 98 will be i1- luminated, the latter indicating to the operator that the signal arm is in a fully extended operative position.

Due to the small amount of current drawn by the serially connected windings of solenoid 45, the signal arm may be left in extended position rfor quite long intervals without draining the battery to a serious extent. When the operator desires to retract the signal arm, he merely moves the control switch Varm 95 into engagement with contact 93, thereby opening the circuit through the serially connected windings of solenoid 45 and closing a circuit through solenoid 46, comprising lead |09, switch arm 95, its cooperating contact 93, a lead I8 now closed, switch contacts 88 and 89, solenoid winding 81 and ground.

As a result of energization of solenoid 46, a magnetic eld will be set up which will draw the armature 41 in to the right of respective Fig. 5, thereby retracting the signal arm to its normal position within the casing 20. Near the completion of this retracting movement switch will be opened, thereby opening the circuit of the pilot light, switch contacts 80 and 8| will be open, thereby breaking the circuit of the signal arm lights 34, and switch contacts 88 and 89 will be opened, thereby automatically breaking the circuit through solenoid 46. With the several circuits thus automatically opened upon retraction of the signal arm the operator need pay no further attention to the control switch 92 until such time as he again has occasion to indicate a turn.

As previously stated, the latch mechanism, which becomes automatically set upon retraction of the signal arm, will hold the signal arm locked against accidental projection under all ordinarily encountered conditions, but should the latch 51 become released and the signal arm be moved slightly toward extended position, as a result of an excessive bump or jolt, the switch contacts 88 and 89 will be automaticaly closed in response to such very slight projecting movement of the signal arm, thereby closing the circuit through solenoid 45 and rendering said solenoid operative to retract the signal arm and re-set the latch.

The above described automatic opening of the several circuits, upon retracting and latching of the signal arm, is an important improvement over the arrangement of our previously filed and above identied co-pending application wherein the circuit of the signal arm returning solenoid remained closed until broken through the medium of the manual control switch. One of the important advantages of the present arrangement over the said prior arrangement is that in the latter arrangement the operator has only two operations o the manual control switch to think about, whereas in the previous arrangement he was called upon to operate the manual control switch three times for each turn indication. In other words, in either the prior or present arrangements the operator must operate the manual control switch once to project the signal and a second time to retract the signal arm, but the important difference is that in the present arrangement the operator after positioning the manual control switch for signal arm retraction, is relieved of further consideration of the mechanism until he desires to indicate another turn, whereas with the prior arrangement it was necessary for the operator to re-position the manual control switch after the signal arm had been retracted, to break the circuit of the signal arm retracting solenoid and thereby relieve the vehicles battery of further drain and prevent overheating of the returning solenoid.

Another important advantage of the present arrangement over that of the arrangement of our previously led co-pending application above referred to is the use of a latch mechanism in the present instance that is not so positive in its action but what it can be over-come by not very great manual pressure exerted directly on the signal arm. The importance of this feature lies firstly in the fact that it permits elimination of any and all connections, such for example, as those employed in the arrangement of our copending application, for effecting manual release of the latch, and secondly lies in the fact that such latch mechanism is not as likely to become accidentally stuck as such non-positive locking or latching mechanism. The latter feature being due to the fact that signal arm projecting pressure will, if necessary, aid in releasing the latch. Obviously, of course, the use of a non-positive latching mechanism, such as described in connection with the present application, is practical only when used in conjunction with means such as herein employed for automatically retracting the signal arm and re-setting the latch should the latch accidentally release the signal arm as a result of excessive jarring. The present arrangement, the switch arm 95 of the master control switch 92, is preferably never set in a position intermediate the contacts 93 and 94 except for the purpose of changing light bulbs 34 in the signal arm which, of course, must be done when the signal arm is extended.

What we claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a casing, a signal arm retractable into and projectable from the casing, a reversible electric motor means for projecting and retracting the signal arm, said motor being substantially ineirective to prevent movement of the signal arm when it is de-energized, circuits for said reversible motor, a remotely located control switch operative in one position to close the one of said circuits that causes operation of the reversible motor in a direction to extend the signal arm and in another position to close the one of said circuits that operates the motor in a direction to move the signal arm from extended to retracted position, and automatic switch means associated with the signal arm retracting circuit and operative to automatically break said circuit when the signal arm reaches a substantially retracted position, and to automatically momentarily close the last named circuits when and if the signal arm should become accidentally partially extended from a retracted position during a time when the reversible motor means is de-energized.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with means for automatically latching the signal arm in retracted position, said latch means being yieldable to undue projecting pressure on the signal arm.

3. The structure dened in claim 1 in further combination with means for automatically latching the signal arm in retracted position, said latch means being yieldable to undue projecting pressure on the signal arm, and means for automatically retracting the latch when the reversible motor is rendered operative to project the signal arm.

4. The structure dened in claim 1 in further combination with means for automatically latching the signal arm in retracted position and means for automatically retracting the latch when the reversible motor is rendered operative to project the signal arm.

5. In a device of the kind described, a signal casing, a signal arm secured to said casing for projecting movements therefrom and. retracting movements thereinto, reversible motor means for extending and retracting the signal arm, a source oi motivating energy for said reversible motor, manually operative control means for selectively rendering said motor operative to move in opposite directions or render the same inoperative, said reversible motor means, when de-energized, being substantially ineiective on the said signal arm to move or retard movements of the signal arm, and automatic control means for automatically de-energizing the motor when the signal arm has been retracted as a result of energization of the motor through manipulation of the manual control means, said automatic control means also being operative to automatically energize the motor to produce signal arm closing movements and automatically retract the signal arm to normal position within the casing When and if the signal arm becomes accidentally partially extended from the casing, during a time When the manual control means is set in signal arm retracting position and the reversible motor is de-energized.

6. In a device of the kind described, a casing, a signal arm mounted for retracting movements into and projecting movements from the casing, reversible motor means for extending and retracting the signal arm, a source of energy for said motor, manually operative control means for rendering said motor operative in opposite directions, said reversible motor being, when de-energized,l substantially ineffective on the signal arm to retard movements thereof, yielding latch means for normally locking the signal arm in retracted positionand against accidental movements from the casing, means for automatically releasing the latch when said motor is rendered operative through manual control to extend the signal arm, and automatic controlmeans for said motor, said automatic control means being operative to automatically de-energize and render the motor inoperative When the signal arm reaches a retracted position Within the casing as a resultv of manual control and being opera-r tive when and if the latch should accidentally release the signal arm from the casing during a time when the reversible motor is deenergized and permit accidental partial extension of the signal arm to automatically render the motor operative to retract the signal arm and re-set the latch and thereafter again Vde-energize the motor and render the same inoperative.

7. In a device of the kind described, a signal casing, a signal arm secured to the casing for projecting movements therefrom and retracting movements thereinto; a reversible moto-r of the type comprising axially spaced solenoids, an armature bar common to said spaced solenoids and adapted to be moved longitudinally in one direction under energization of one of the solenoids and in the opposite direction under energization of the other of said solenoids, and linkage operatively connecting said armature bar to the signal arm; a source of potential for said soleno-ids, manually operative control means for selectively controlling energization and de-energization of said solenoids from said source of potential, and automatic control means operative to cause automatic de-energizationof the signal arm closing solenoid when the signal arm has been retracted as a result of energization thereof and to automatically cause energization of the signal arm retracting solenoid when and if the signal arm should be accidentally partially extended from the casing during a time when both of said solenoids are de-energized.

CARL M. ROAN. OLIVER E. KAUPANG. ARTHUR W. ROHLEN. 

